On this day in 1927, Aviator and Mason Charles A. Lindbergh lands at la Bourget Field in Paris, France after successfully completing the first solo, non stop transatlantic flight and the first ever non stop flight between New York and Paris. His single engine monoplane, named the "Sprit of Saint Louis" had lifted off from Roosevelt Field in New York 33 and a half hours before.

Charles A. Lindbergh An American pioneer aviator, was born on February 4, 1902 at Detroit, Mich. He left the University of Wisconsin in 1920 to enroll in flying school at Lincoln, Nebr. He enrolled as a flying cadet in U.S. Air Service at Brooks Field, Texas in 1924, and later advanced to colonel in the reserve. He made first flight as an air mail pilot from Chicago, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri on April 15, 1926. In February 1927 he went to San Diego to order and supervise construction of his famous plane, "The Spirit of St. Louis." He took off from San Diego on May 10, 1927, and landed at Curtiss Field, in Long Island, New York on May 12th (with a stopover at St. Louis) with flight time of 21 hours and 20 minutes, a record coast to coast flight. He took off alone on May 20, 1927, on a non-stop trans-Atlantic flight from Roosevelt Field, N.Y., via Newfoundland, Ireland, and England, and landed at Paris, France the next day, covering an estimated distance of 3,600 miles in 331/2 hours. He was given official reception by the French government, and later at Brussels and London. He was officially welcomed by President Calvin Coolidge on return and made air tour of 75 American cities to promote aeronautics under auspices of Guggenheim Foundation. On invitation from the president of Mexico, he made a non-stop flight from Washington, D.C. to Mexico City, a distance of 2,100 miles in 27 hours and 10 minutes. He later visited Central America and the West Indies. At this time he was probably the best known person in the world. He made a survey of the U.S. plane production for the Army in 1939. In 1941 he toured the U.S. making radio speeches, urging the U.S. to keep out of war. He was bitterly attacked for this by American internationalists, and even branded as a traitor. Once at war, he gave valuable service to our Air Force as a technical adviser, and even flew combat missions in the Pacific as a civilian. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Pulitzer Prize, and many other honors. Lindbergh received his degrees in Keystone Lodge No. 243, St. Louis, Missouri on June 9, October 20, and December 15, 1926, and is a life member of that lodge. He is also a member of St. Louis Chapter No. 33, National Sojourners, and of the Sciots at San Diego, Calif. On his history-making flight from New York to Paris, he wore the square and compasses on his jacket as a luck charm. The plane also bore a Masonic tag from his lodge. He received many medals and citations from Grand Lodges throughout the world and they are now on display at the Jefferson Memorial in St. Louis. Brother Lindbergh entered the Celestial Lodge on August 26, 1974.